News

Rockford, Ill. – Chicago Blackhawks General Manager of Minor League Affiliations Mark Bernard announced three transactions on Thursday for the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs.

The Chicago Blackhawks have reassigned goaltender Alec Richards to Dresdner of the 2nd Bundesliga, and reassigned forward David Gilbert to Rockford. The IceHogs have also inked forward Brad Mills to an AHL contract.

Richards moves to the 2nd Budesliga in Germany after spending four seasons with the IceHogs. The Robbinsdale, Minn. native appeared in 11 contests for Rockford this season, posting a 4-5-0 record with a .874 save percentage and a goals against average of 3.50. In 83 career tilts with the Hogs dating back to the 2009-10 campaign, the 25-year-old was 31-39-3 and had a career save percentage of .890 and a GAA of 3.27.

The fourth-year pro also protected the net in 55 career tilts for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye during the 2009-10 and 2011-12 seasons, posting a 25-24-2 record. Prior to turning pro, Richards attended Yale University from 2005-2009, where he earned a record of 39-39-6-0 for the Bulldogs.

Gilbert rejoins Rockford after departing to the CHL’s Bloomington Blaze on Jan. 27, where he laced up in Bloomington’s 8-2 loss at Quad City. Gilbert has skated in three tilts with the IceHogs this season, totaling one point, an assist on Jan. 25 against the Chicago Wolves.

Mills joins Rockford after spending the first half of the 2012-13 season with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies. Appearing in 27 contests, the 29-year-old notched 15 goals, 20 assists and 116 PIMs for the Grizzlies, and was named the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 26-Dec. 2.

Prior to signing with Utah, the Terrace, B.C. native played collegiately at Yale University from 2003-2007 before spending his entire pro career in the New Jersey Devils organization. Mills appeared in 252 career games with the AHL’s Lowell/Albany Devils, totaling 90 career points (39g-51a) and 415 PIMs.

The 6-0', 195 lbs. forward began the 2011-12 campaign with New Jersey, skating in 27 tilts and recording his lone NHL assist. Mills made his NHL debut on Oct. 30, 2010 at Los Angeles, and has appeared in 31 career NHL games, tallying one goal and one assist.

Next Home Game: Saturday, Feb. 9 vs. Houston Aeros. Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans to the game will pick up a Colin Fraser Bobblehands figurine courtesy of Gatorade, recognizing the first former IceHogs skater to win two Stanley Cups.